St. Louis schools form dream team
WU, other area schools attend first annual Dream Keepers' Fair in Midtown
By: Lanz Christian Bañes and Amanda King
Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: News
moment of silence.
Former Missouri Gov. Bob Holden spoke at the Cardinals' press conference announcing their cooperation with the Dream Keepers last week.
"I'm delighted the Cardinals have seen this as an opportunity to play a large role in the community," Holden told The Journal. "If we don't address or solve this issue in St. Louis, it will be impossible to solve some of the education and health care issues we talk about all the time."
At the fair, the SGAs of SLU and Harris-Stowe were presented plaques of recognition by U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis, and state Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford, D-St. Louis.
"St. Louis better get it," Clay said. "This racial division retards the growth of this community."
SLU Provost Joe Weixlmann was the first of several speakers at the event, which also included live entertainment, games and informational booths.
Weixlmann protested the Vietnam War and said he was an ardent supporter of civil rights during that era.
"Our motto was, 'We can change the world'," Weixlmann said. "If we'd done a better job at that, we'd be here celebrating today in a different way."
Another speaker, Martin Rafanan, discussed the Decline to Sign campaign, which aims to defeat the Missouri Civil Rights Initiative from getting on the ballot for the November elections. Rafanan said the initiative would write into the Missouri constitution a ban on affirmative action that he argued would be a step in the wrong direction for civil rights.
"Why would you call an initiative trying to end affirmative action the 'Missouri Civil Rights Initiative?'" Rafanan said. "They're trying to trick Missourians into ending what we've fought for."
In addition to politicians, university officials and Rafanan, several students read their poetry, including WU senior media communications major Mark Albrecht and junior broadcast journalism major Jamella Brown.
Albrecht helped organize the event after he got to know Krauss at a meeting for the Decline to Sign campaign.
Former Missouri Gov. Bob Holden spoke at the Cardinals' press conference announcing their cooperation with the Dream Keepers last week.
"I'm delighted the Cardinals have seen this as an opportunity to play a large role in the community," Holden told The Journal. "If we don't address or solve this issue in St. Louis, it will be impossible to solve some of the education and health care issues we talk about all the time."
At the fair, the SGAs of SLU and Harris-Stowe were presented plaques of recognition by U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis, and state Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford, D-St. Louis.
"St. Louis better get it," Clay said. "This racial division retards the growth of this community."
SLU Provost Joe Weixlmann was the first of several speakers at the event, which also included live entertainment, games and informational booths.
Weixlmann protested the Vietnam War and said he was an ardent supporter of civil rights during that era.
"Our motto was, 'We can change the world'," Weixlmann said. "If we'd done a better job at that, we'd be here celebrating today in a different way."
Another speaker, Martin Rafanan, discussed the Decline to Sign campaign, which aims to defeat the Missouri Civil Rights Initiative from getting on the ballot for the November elections. Rafanan said the initiative would write into the Missouri constitution a ban on affirmative action that he argued would be a step in the wrong direction for civil rights.
"Why would you call an initiative trying to end affirmative action the 'Missouri Civil Rights Initiative?'" Rafanan said. "They're trying to trick Missourians into ending what we've fought for."
In addition to politicians, university officials and Rafanan, several students read their poetry, including WU senior media communications major Mark Albrecht and junior broadcast journalism major Jamella Brown.
Albrecht helped organize the event after he got to know Krauss at a meeting for the Decline to Sign campaign.
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